It's the thing with the cling: Saran Wrap! It amazingly handy for covering leftovers and, of course, microwave dishes. But I recently discovered the slippery stuff has all kinds of other rather wonderful uses. Here are a few of my favs:

1. Salvage corked wine. Sounds like a fiction, but this one's true! Screw up a square foot of cling wrap and stuff it into your wine bottle. Swirl gently for five to 10 minutes, depending on how badly "off" the wine tastes. The wrap removes that bitter taint from your beverage.

2. Preserve paints and spackles. When you're done painting, protect leftover paint from drying up by placing a layer of Saran Wrap across the top of the can before hammering the lid back on. Another tip: wrap your paintbrush in cling wrap at the end of a day's painting. You can pick up again in the morning, no rinsing, no hassles.

3. Pack silverware. Moving? Stop silverware – any flatware, in fact – from clinking, clanking and getting all mixed up. Just use a little Saran Wrap around the handles of each dozen or so utensils.

4. Get a non-slip grip. Have slippy plastic handles on your garden tools or kitchen mop? Wrap a length of cling wrap around and around to get a nice, secure grip. It costs nothing and saves your hands from blisters!

5. Banish frizzies. Get the perfect frizz-free 'do by trying the Saran Wrap hair-drying method. Check out this You Tube clip for a step-by-step tutorial. (Yes, I do wish I had gorgeous hair like this!)

6. Keep ice cream fresh. If working your way through a carton of ice cream takes you a few weeks or longer, use the cling wrap trick to prevent crystallization. Cover the top tightly with wrap, then replace the lid. If you have a half-gallon-size cardboard carton, wrap the entire thing for long-term storage.

7. Deny wintery breezes access to your home. In a pinch, a little Saran Wrap can seal drafty window frames. It's no substitute for weather-proofing strips but, hey, it works and it's inexpensive.

8. Pattern making. What a cool way to get a perfect fit for clothing patterns. Domestic gods and goddesses who can sew should give this one a try!